
1. Tell me a little bit about yourself before you became a country singer?
Before stepping into the music industry I was a total theater geek. My focus and ultimate goal was to be on Broadway. I grew up just outside of NYC and loved musical theater. I was part of a youth theater company and when it came time for college I auditioned and was accepted in the theater performance program at Wagner College. In 2015 I graduated from Wagner with a B.A. in Theater Performance and have been working in music ever since! It wasn’t exactly a straight path but it certainly has been an amazing journey!
2. How did you get into country music and how did you know you wanted a career in it?
One of my best childhood friends, Mikey, is a big fan of country music. Anytime we were in the car he had it blasting on the radio and it wasn’t long before I was hooked. Once I headed off to college the interest deepened as another great friend and country music fan, Brian, introduced me to all of his favorite artists. Between the two of them and my own self discovery throughout the years, I have transitioned from belting show tunes non-stop to fine tuning my own fun loving country style. As I began writing songs I found my voice and it was a natural fit that Country Pop would be my genre of choice!
3. What is your favorite song off your latest EP “Dancing with Strangers?”
Picking a favorite is hard, I love all of them for so many different reasons. There is a story behind each one. One of my favorites to perform is CHUG because it’s just a simple, fun loving, party anthem! It also happens to be charting at #14 on the New Music Weekly Country Chart!
4. How did you come with the name “Dancing with Strangers” for your EP?
“I could dance with a stranger and twirl in the comfort of his arms” is a line from my song Perfectly Lonely. I was having a hard time deciding on the album title so I narrowed it down to 4 different options, including “Dancing With Strangers”. I did a Facebook poll so that my friends and family could be a part of the process. When the final votes were in, “Dancing with Strangers” was the favorite!
5. Who are some of your musical icons?
Normally I say Jimmy Buffett and Carole King because that’s the music I grew up on, but more recently I have been really loving Dolly Parton. In school I was in the musical “9 to 5” and I had the pleasure of playing Dolly Parton’s part. I always loved her songs but there was something about playing the part of “Doralee” and singing Dolly’s songs through the character that gave me an even bigger appreciation of her and her music!
6. Is there anything else coming up with your music for the rest of 2017?
As I said earlier, CHUG is currently charting so I’m hoping as that continues to rise it will open some new doors for me. I also just moved down to Nashville and am meeting with new writers. I hope to have another new song ready to release to radio in the spring.
7. If you could sing a duet with a famous singer or group who would it be and why?
I would love to sing a duet with Kacey Musgraves. I absolutely love her music and the way she gets her message across through her lyrics and her vibe. I think we would have a fun time on stage as well as off!
8. Where do you see yourself in the next 5 to 10 years with your music?
I have many dreams and aspirations but at the same time I know that I have chosen a career path that has a lot of unknowns. It’s not like being an accountant where you go to college, become a CPA and join a firm. This industry forces you to live what I like to call a “freelance lifestyle” so my journey, or path, will be windy for sure! That being said, my long term goal is that I can reach a point in my life where I am writing songs and performing all the time. I consider myself an entertainer and if I can be up on stage playing music that people enjoy, I will consider myself a success! Oh yeah, and maybe getting a CMA award or two would be fun!!
9. What is one of your favorite quotes?
“Live the life you have imagined!”
10. Is there anything else you would like to share?
I love chicken nuggetts and coffee. = ) And I can touch my nose with my tongue!!
